Spain manager Luis Enrique has insisted that Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi "is one step above the rest", despite his World Player of the Year snub by FIFA.
Messi was surprisingly overlooked by world football's governing body in their three-man shortlist to be crowned the best on the planet.
Juventus's Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Real Madrid ace Luka Modric are instead in the running, with the winner to be announced at a ceremony in London later this month.
Speaking ahead of Spain's UEFA Nations League clash with Modric's Croatia, however, former Barca boss Enrique questioned FIFA's list of contenders in the men's category.
"If I talk about Croatia [players], I would talk about Modric and [Ivan] Rakitic," he told reporters. "They both deserve individual prizes.
"But if I have to talk about the best in the world, the prize of the best player would be given to Leo Messi, who is one step above the rest."
Messi enjoyed another impressive season in front of goal last season as he guided Barcelona to success in La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
